In his alarming -- but not, I think, alarmist -- book America Alone (Regnery, 2006) Mark Steyn highlights the threat posed by falling birthrates worldwide, a phenomenon he calls "the demographic death spiral".
Steyn calls Japan "the most geriatric jurisdiction on the planet", and goes on: "[There] the rising sun has already passed into the next phase of its long sunset: net population loss. 2005 was the first year since records began in which the country had more deaths than births. Japan offers the chance to observe the demographic death spiral in its purest form. It's a country with no immigration, no significant minorities and no desire for any: just the Japanese, aging and dwindling."
One consequence of deaths exceeding births is that in Japan dolls have replaced children. A news story explained: "toy makers are designing new dolls designed not for the young but for the lonely and elderly -- companions who can sleep next to them, The Yumel doll, which looks like a baby boy and has a vocabulary of 1,200 phrases sells at a price of 8,500 yen ($80). 'I feel so good, good night', the doll says, before falling asleep if the owner pats it gently on the chest." Just think of it: 1,200 phrases; a vocabulary in excess of most of today's university graduates. And just one gentle pat and the bedmate drifts off to Neverland. A tired wife's dream.
The first recorded commandment God gave in the Garden of Eden was:
Genesis 1 – 22 Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth.
But we are moderns, hell-bent on the pursuit of happiness. We do not consider ourselves bound by ancient commandments. We decided collectively -- and quite some time ago -- that ancient wisdom has nothing to teach us.
Ian Hunter is professor emeritus in the faculty of law at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ont. This article was originally published in National Post, Tuesday, March 06, 2007. Permission to republish given by the author. (c) Copyright: LifeSiteNews.com is a production of Interim Publishing. Permission to republish is granted (with limitation*) but acknowledgement of source is *REQUIRED*. For more of this article visit this website: http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/apr/07040501.html
Further Comments by Ray Luff,
The decisions in Japan to reduce the birth rate to 1.3 individuals when it takes a birth rate of 2.1 to simply replace their race were made many years ago. It is only in the past few years that the results of this disobedience to God’s directives has begun to show it’s resulting fruit. I suspect the real fruit is yet to rear it’s ugly head, especially in the West where birth rates are also following the pattern set forth in Japan. Eventually the generation that said it is OK to allow mothers to love themselves more than their offspring will be faced with what offspring that were allowed to exist deciding to love themselves more than their elders. We live in the “Me First generation”. This has been true since the excesses in the 60’s of free love, self love and even unnatural love. [1]
The bible describes the slippery slope that our world is traveling down.
Romans 1 – 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse. 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 professing to be wise they became fools, 23 and they changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man – and birds and four – footed animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies amongst themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
We are seeing the results of self-love in the declining birth rate. We are seeing the results of self-love in single parent families and in high divorce rates. We are also seeing the result of self-love in unnatural practices and accepted norms such as those that want to enter into same sex marriage. We are also starting to experiment with doctor assisted suicide and public opinion is shifting toward it as a socially accepted alternative.
Our generation that has killed 25% of all children under age 30 due to the enshrining of our self-love may soon see the results of our tampering with God’s moral directives. We have instilled our self-love into our children who will see us as a burden to them when there is a dispropor-tionate number of us who will be requiring care in our old age. The battles regarding abortion will soon give way to the battles of the rights for the infirmed. If you have any doubt of this look to the case regarding Terry Schaivo. [2]
It is a well known fact that the largest selling books that generate the most revenue, even within the context of Christian literature are the books that we would refer to as “Self Help Books”.
We live in a society which has Materialistic values. We hear sayings like “the one who dies with the most toys wins.”. We hear sayings like “keeping up with the Jones’”. We idolize the rich and the famous.
We replace the role of “Soul Care” from the local Pastor at a local church with the philosophies and teachings of Sigmund Freud. Freud called himself a godless Jew. He set about to remove our reliance on the role of pastor for our family counsel by starting up a science based on his belief in evolution and that we can assist the evolution of the human mind through the study of philosophy and through the use of drug and other types of therapies. The name that Freud gave to his newly formed science contains the word “Psyche”. Ie. Psychology. This word is a Greek word which means “Soul”. When we adhere to these sciences to solve our problems we are allowing men to work on our souls. But we are allowing them to do it devoid of the use of the God’s word and Gods chosen gift to the church which is that of the “Pastor”. Even within Christian circles today we are rapidly replacing the role of pastor with the role of Psychologist.
Freud taught that the biggest problem that people have is that of guilt. He taught that guilt is caused by our inhibitions. [3] Freud taught us to defend ourselves from any influence or person who might make us feel guilty for doing the things that we naturally want to do. [4] When we follow Freud’s advice we end up worshiping ourselves (the created) and the needs of others (such as the unborn) must take second place. Freud argues that we must love ourselves before we can love others. His mantra makes a lot of sense to our human understanding and is often repeated, even from Christian pulpits today.
The number one reason given by Freud and which continues to be given by his followers today for relying on his advice is that people may become suicidal and it has become believed that well meaning Christian advisors may not recognize this and might not be able to stop such individuals from acting on their depressions and committing suicide. However, many do not realize that Freud was a manic depressive person who struggled with his own depressions. His mind science failed him toward the end of his life when he decided to take an overdose to avoid facing a slow and painful death due to cancer. His science did not stop him from committing suicide.
The Bible has something to say about sorrow which leads some people to death.
2 Corinthians 7 – 10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted: but the sorrow of the world produces death.
The Bible message is that sorrow is God given. In fact it can even be Godly to have sorrow. The world with its self-love objective does everything to avoid sorrow. When sorrow comes your way realize it could be sent by God. Allow the sorrow to lead you to repentance of whatever God reveals to you is wrong about your life and allow it to lead you to salvation. You won’t regret the sorrow that comes your way if you allow it to have this godly outcome in your life. But if you practice self-love your sorrow may lead you to death. Ultimately it will lead you into the second death if it doesn’t lead you into your first death here on earth.
The bible tells us not to fear the first death but to fear the second death.
Revelation 20 – 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power…14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found in written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
The salvation mentioned in 2 Corinthian 7 is from the second death which is the lake of fire. Yet God seems to use Sorrow to bring us into a willingness to receive that salvation. So we must learn from Sorrow so that we can benefit from it. If we practice self-love we may make the wrong assumption that sorrow is never a good thing and miss out entirely on God’s plan for our lives.
God uses sorrow during this life to cause us to turn from our selfish ways and to turn to Him so that we can avoid eternal sorrow. When we fail to understand His purpose for sorrow in our lives we fail to prepare ourselves to avoid that eternal state of sorrow that the Bible tells us many will suffer.
Daniel 12 – 1 …And at that time your people shall be delivered. Every one who is found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake. Some to everlasting life. Some to shame and everlasting contempt.
If you react the right way to sorrow by turning to our Lord and expressing to Him regret for your sins you will be lead to salvation from the second death. The bible is clear that we all will exist eternally but many of us will exist in an eternal state of sorrow. Freud would have us believe that the first death is the ultimate solution to our sorrow because his philosophy does not make room for understanding what awaits for us after the first death. When realize there is a second death we can see that suicide is not the answer to our problems. In fact we can actually begin to see our problems as a good thing if they lead us to be concerned about our eternal state of being and it results in our salvation.
We also begin to realize that living for ourselves may count for the first life but it will do nothing to help us in our second life. Those who enter into God’s salvation from the second death are able to change so that they no longer live for themselves. The bible describes their lifestyle as follows;
Philippians 2 – 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition of conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not to your own interests but also for the interests of others.
Those that live for others will no longer spend their lives putting themselves first. They will no longer seek self-love. They will discover that the Love that God gives them only grows as they try to give it away to others.
The bible predicts that just prior to Christ’s return to this earth that many will be living their lives according to the philosophy of self-love.
2 Timothy 3- 1But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
If the things we have told you in this tract have spoken to your heart, please look for other messages from us at our website.
May God richly bless you as you consider living your life for Him in his prescribed manner.
Ray,
You may contact the person who handed you this tract or the tracts author.
Bible Door Tracts
bibledoor@rogers.com
273 Manchester Drive, Newmarket, ON, L3Y 6J4, Canada
http://bibledoor.no-ip.org/ and http://bibledoorurdu.no-ip.org/
Our Blog Website: http://bibledoor.no-ip.org/
copyright 2007 © Bible Door Tracts.
You may print this tract to hand out in PDF format at this web address
http://bibledoor.no-ip.org/pdf/eng_self_love.pdf
This tracts author is Ray Luff of Bible Door Tracts. The opinions contained in this tract do not necessarily represent the Open Brethren Assemblies of Ontario, among which Ray is in fellowship. All Bible references are from The New King James Version. 1996, c1982. Nashville: Thomas Nelson unless otherwise noted.
You may contact the person who handed you this tract or the tracts author.
Bible Door Tracts
bibledoor@rogers.com
273 Manchester Drive, Newmarket, ON, L3Y 6J4, Canada
http://bibledoor.no-ip.org/ and http://bibledoorurdu.no-ip.org/
Our Blog Website: http://bibledoor.no-ip.org/
copyright 2007 © Bible Door Tracts.
You may print this tract to hand out in PDF format at this web address
http://bibledoor.no-ip.org/pdf/eng_self_love.pdf
This tracts author is Ray Luff of Bible Door Tracts. The opinions contained in this tract do not necessarily represent the Open Brethren Assemblies of Ontario, among which Ray is in fellowship. All Bible references are from The New King James Version. 1996, c1982. Nashville: Thomas Nelson unless otherwise noted.
[1] See our tract http://bibledoor.no-ip.org/pdf/eng_non_monogamy.pdf
[2] See our tract - http://bibledoor.no-ip.org/pdf/eng_chp_morgentaler_sm.pdf
[3] The bible calls our inhibitions our conscience. Romans 2 - 14 their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them
[4] The bible warns against destroying our conscience. 1 Timothy 1 - 19 having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck,
[2] See our tract - http://bibledoor.no-ip.org/pdf/eng_chp_morgentaler_sm.pdf
[3] The bible calls our inhibitions our conscience. Romans 2 - 14 their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them
[4] The bible warns against destroying our conscience. 1 Timothy 1 - 19 having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck,
